Improvement in spring-mattresses



-UNITED STATES n PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN L. BUSHNELL, OF POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN SPRING-MATTRESSES.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 9,658, dated April 12,1851i.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN L. BUsHN-ELL, of Poughkeepsie, in the countyof Dutchess and State of New York, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in the Manner of Connecting or Forming a Cluster of Springsfor Beds, Mattresses, Cushions, and Pillows; and I do hereby declarethat the following is a full and exact description, reference being hadto the accompaning drawings, andto the letters of reference markedthereon.

Figure l is a plan of the springs and the net-work of cord by which theyare connected at the top and bot-tom. Fig. 2 is a side or end Viewshowing the hour-glass form of the spiral springs'and their arrangementin ranks. Fig. 3 is a side View showing the manner in which theconnected springs are folded.

The springs are spiral or helical-such as are cominonlyusedinupholstery-made from iron or other wire, which is smallest in the centerand increases in diameter toward either extremity, approaching anhour-glass in form, so that when closely compressed each successivesmaller whirl falls within the larger, and the whole is disposed indouble concentric convolutions, occupying a space equal to twice thethickness of the wire. Each spring is capable of being bent upon itself,so that the larger end coils may be brought in contact.

A cluster of these springs are placed vertically in rows i-n rightangles to each other, forming a parallelogram of any desired size andproportion for a skeleton bedpillow, cushion, or other article. (SeeFig. l.) The top and bottom coil of each spring is then tied firmly toits fellows at each point of contact with strong twine A A, the coils atthe angle of the parallelograin having two, the others in the outer rowsthree, and those in the interior each four, ligatures, so that the wholecluster is irmly united, the springs mutually supporting and keepingeach other in place. A net-work of cord B, Fig. l, is then formed overthe ends of the springs on the upper and under surface, which serves toStrengthen and secure their mutual connection and likewise to preventthe hair or other article used to cover the upper surface of the springsfrom sagging into the holes of the springs and the interstices betweenthem. This net-work is fastened to t-he outer edge of the curve of eachspring in the outer rows, and to every point where contiguous springsare formed, so that a knot or cross is over the center of each spacebetween four adjoining springs. Y

As each spring is capable of being bent upon itself, a cluster ofsprings so connected may be bent or folded longitudinally ortransversely between any two parallel rows, or the coils of anytwocontiguous rows interlacing those on each side may be doubled aboutthem.

Vhat I claim as my invention, or for which I desire to secure LettersPatent, is-

The mode or principle of securing the springs by attaching the freeextremity of each spring to the terminal coil of the adjacent spring, sothat they mutually support each other without the use of any inflexibleframe of wood or `other material, at the same time that in rolling orfolding up the mattress the outside ends of the springs expand or open,while the inside ends contract or close, and by which means any articleso constructed will admit of being rolled or folded upon itself orcompressed, substantially as described.

EDWIN L. BUSHNELL. Witnesses:

C. K. CoRLIss, WM. VAN ANDEN.

